Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-14
wooDEAwx FARMERS CLUB.

wOODLAyVN FARMERS CLUB.
CRepored for the Alexandria GAzErTE)
The January meeting of the Woodlawn
Farmers Club was held at Lewis Gilling-
hams, on the Sth inst, President Pierson in
the chair.
The critical committee for the meeting at
j. W. Gibbs failing to report at that time.
produced one to-day-slating that his farm
| of 2l6 acres was well adapted TO milk dairy
inc in which he was engaged, and they
found "a COWS, go OF which were milking, ~
head of yearlings and calves, horses end D
| colts. nearly all in COED condition. They
noticed that he was di5posing OF some OF the
older COWS and those nearly dry TO be re-
placed with younger ones, which Was COM
mended. The siIo of some 800 tons capacity,
together with the ration OF mixed gram ne
was feeding and the hay on hand would
enable him to amply provide for his stock
! through the winter. They noticed the alb
sence Of a large flock of sheep and number
of hogs since last meeting there--Mr. Gibbs
having disposed of these as he thinks they
did not paw in connection with milk dairy
ing. The farm appeared to be under good
state of cultivation, o large part OF it being
down to grass with only about % acres OF
wheat. They thought if The house and
barn could be got nearer together Ii WcuI0
be a great Improvement.
The report OF the critical committee upon
the premises Of Lewis Gillinghan was next
read The land being covered w!th snow
little could be said OF the appearance Of the
farm and crops. Butter darying Is his
main reliance, and the farm was we'll suited
for the business. They thought some I'M
proyements might be made about his barn
yards to facilitate the saving OF manure.
| The farm stock seemed to be al! IN iAiE
condition. showing that it received his per-
sonaI SUPERVISION, which they commended.
| A new machips was noticed for making wire
fence by weaving in pickets a few inches
anart. which mighs answer well III many
places. The barn was filled with au ample
supply of hay and fodder for the stock on
hand. unless the winter is unusually pro-
longed. His farm Implements were about
in The condition and position OF most q the
other members, some well sheltered aud
Others serving the double purpose OF use III
the farming season, and for chicken roosts
the balance Of the year In discussing the
foregoing report the question arose rs
to whether grass and grain grew in
winter under the SNOW. 4 compari-
son of views sustained the afirma-
tive. This led to discussion OF the best
method of applying farm yard manure, aud
whether it should be hauled out as fast as
made. A W. Harrison would haul and
spreal as fast "a made, through the winter
upon his wheat, if tho land was III coudt-
! tion to 90 upon with the team. ID. Buck
man would do tho name-puttlng the ma
nure on the land Tor the coming corn
crop. c. Lukens would follow the latter
plan. if practicable, but his usual custom
was to spread upon the land after it is p!ow
ed for wheat in the fall, ana harrow well to
scatter it evenly before the second plowing,
which should oe shallow. H. Gillingham
would plow for corn and then haul and
| spread. :. Ballenger and w. Walton
hauled out through The winter into large
heaps in the field, and spread in the spring
after the ground was plowed for corn. This
was thought by some TO be an extra hand
| ling that would not pay, cut J. 3. said tie
banlinr was done. when there was leisure,
| and he preferred to have the manure on the
surface, where it acted in part as mulch
| and enabled the corn TO withstand.
drought better. T.. +. Mason also thought
this good plan, as it induced the seeds OF
weeds in Tie manure to geFminate and be
DESTROYED. j. n Gibh5 would top-dTess
wheat and haul ou! Us fast as possible. j..
w. Roberts wcnid haul as fast as made, top
dress the moving grass, cut the crop, then
plow and seed with rye for spring pasture,
! to be followed in the summer with ensllage
corn. T. w. Blunt applies his manure IN
the snring and plows it ia for potato crop,
to be followed with wheat. The proposed
agricultural bill, formulated by the meeting
at Charlottesville, was read ana commented
upon, and it YVES decidedly apparent that
while this club does not wish TO oppose any
proper measures for the advancement ofthe
| farmers interests, yet we mustreiterete our
condemnation of the proposition for the
large appropriation at this time Cor the pur-
poses contemplated.
The President read an article in relation
to the increase of bovine tuberculosis in
some parts of the country, which appears to
be more prevalent than pleuro-pneumonia
and is matter of serious concern.
The subject of holding farmers conveu-
ton in this part of the State was introduced
and met with such favor that committee,
consisting of n. ". Pierson, G. Lukens and
]. w. Roberts, was appointed to correspond
with the other agricultural organizations
and prominent farmers in Fairfax and Alex
andria counties with the view of holding q
farmers convention at some suitable point
and to report programme, together With
the time and place for holding the sane, g:
the next meeting, which will be ct john
Ballenger's on the 9TH OF February. Criti
cal committee-J. n. Gibbs, Lewis Gilling
ham and William Hunter, jg.
w. GILLINGHAll, Secretary.